Balance or scale - Patinated bronze - Antique Brass Steelyard

Antique Brass Beam Scales, 1920, Riga, Latvia – Vintage Baltic Scales
Antique brass beam scales (measuring scales) used in Latvia since around 1920. For over a century, they were likely used to weigh sugar, salt, grain, and countless other goods in and around the historic Baltic port of Riga. Rich patina, expressive character, and a very atmospheric decorative element for the home, basement, hunting lodge, or office.

Product Overview
Antique Brass Beam Scales / Measuring Scales
Used in Latvia since approximately 1920
Associated with the ancient trading traditions of Riga, Baltic Sea
Strong patina, pristine surface – genuine antique brass
Perfect as a decorative element for rustic and industrial interiors
Can be used for weighing if calibrated by the new owner
Specifications
Approx. Year of manufacture: 1920s
Origin: Riga, Latvia (Baltic Sea region)
Material: Brass, iron hook and fittings
Weight: approximately 1800 g
Length: approximately 57 cm
Handle diameter: approximately 4 cm
Scale range: 0 to 125 (units not specified)
Condition: Complete, with a distinct patina and signs of wear consistent with age
Patina, character, and use
The scale was used in Latvia since approximately 1920. It's difficult to say how many thousands of tons it weighed over those 105 years! It could have been sugar, salt, grain, and hundreds of other types of trade cargo that enterprising merchants shipped and received in the very old and famous port of Riga on the Baltic Sea. The port, like the city, was founded by German knights in the 13th century AD.

Old brass is beautiful! The patina of time is simply incomparable.

I didn't remove the patina. Customers' opinions were split roughly evenly: some like the patina, others prefer polished brass. So far, time has won. Patina can always be removed quickly and easily if necessary—but a century of real life, once polished, can never be restored.

Personally, I would use these scales exclusively for the design and interior of a home, basement, hunting lodge, office, workshop, wine cellar, etc. Although, of course, they can also be used for their intended purpose ;) If there's something to weigh... everyone decides for themselves.

Beautiful antique objects always find a worthy place and use that will bring visual pleasure to their owners. These scales convey not only metal and numbers, but also the quiet stories of rivers, piers, and old grain storage facilities along the Baltic coast.

Additional Information
Scales: 0 to 125. It's unclear what units of weight they are in: kilograms or local historical units. Please refer to the scale photos for reference.

Important Notice for Collectors
This is a genuine antique/vintage item, not new. It has seen actual use and bears genuine signs of age, storage, and use.

Sold exclusively as a collectible and/or interior decoration item.
Any cleaning, polishing, maintenance, repair, or calibration is entirely at the buyer's discretion and risk.
All costs of inspection, diagnostics, adjustment, or restoration are 100% the responsibility of the buyer.
The seller makes no warranties regarding accuracy, load capacity, or suitability for commercial use.
By purchasing this item, you acknowledge that you understand the vintage nature of this scale and assume all technical and cosmetic risks associated with vintage mechanical measuring instruments.

Return and Customs Policy
NO RETURNS. This item is sold AS-IS as a vintage/collectible item.

In the rare instance where a return is required by policy, the buyer is fully and exclusively responsible for the following:

All packaging and shipping costs for the return;

All shipping risks during return shipping;

All customs duties, taxes, and import fees (both ways);
Any additional carrier fees or customs delays.
Refunds (if applicable by policy) will be issued ONLY after the item is received back, inspected, and confirmed to be in the same original condition as before shipment. The cost of original and return shipping, as well as any customs fees and duties, are non-refundable.

The buyer is also responsible for all customs duties, taxes, VAT, and import fees for the original shipment. Customs delays are possible. The seller is not responsible for customs processing time or any additional fees in the receiving country.

Shipping from Latvia (Riga), an EU country. Buyers from EU countries do not need to pay additional taxes.